When winter weather hits, safety is our number one concern. Snow accumulation and ice build-up pose challenges for transit customers and transit operations. Buses may experience delays or need to use alternate routes during severe weather. OCCK Transportation staff address these challenges in concert with contractors, municipalities, transit partners and business/property owners.
Snow/Ice Removal Priorities
With a small staff and a sometimes large winter storm workload, OCCK Transportation establishes priorities to ensure it fields its service and tends to the needs of its customers.
Priority #1 – Bus and Van Operations
In order for buses and vans to begin service, garages, driveways, and support facilities must be cleared so operators, mechanics, supervisors and operational support staff can begin serving customers.
Priority #2 – Passenger Movement
Next, OCCK Transportation begins to clear snow and ice from customer areas at locations with the most activity – transfer stations, etc. — to permit safe passage for the highest number of customers. In very heavy snowfalls, this work may be accomplished in two stages, initially providing only a walkway to a bus loading area, returning later to complete the work. In lighter snowfalls, the entire facility will be cleared.
Priority #3 – Customers with Limited Mobility
Once high-use facilities are cleared, OCCK Transportation begins meeting the travel needs of customers with limited mobility. OCCK Transportation prioritizes these locations based on the number of daily boardings by customers with limited mobility.
Priority #4 – Customer-Waiting Shelters
After high-use limited mobility sites have been addressed, OCCK Transportation begins clearing the customer-waiting shelters it owns throughout the community.
At its shelters, OCCK Transportation will clear snow and ice from the shelter and clear a six-foot area around the shelter. In addition, OCCK Transportation staff will create a four-foot wide walkway from the shelter to the bus stop.
Priority #5 – Revisiting and Grooming
OCCK Transportation next returns to facilities to address clean-up work and new issues. For example, it is not uncommon for street snowplows to push snow back into an already cleared path from a bus shelter to a bus stop.